Beet harvester



949, F. L. SMlTH I 2, 7 BEET HARVESTER 7 Filed June 15, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

v F950 L. JM/7H.

14 T TOR/V5 K F. SMITH- BEET 'HARVESTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 15, 1946 INVENTOR. FRE L. JM/TH- ATTORNEY.

- Aug- 9, 1949. F. SMITH Q BEET HARVESTER I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 15, 1 946 INVEN 56 57 v 56 V 7 y Arrog/ygr.

Patented Aug. 9, :1949

UNITE-D STATES ATEN T i C E B'EET HARV ESTER| .Ered.-L.--.Smith, Julesburg, 0010.

Application June' 1-5, 1946, Serial Nor'6773'01-3 Claims. 1

fil hisinvention are'lates ate asugar beet ihaitvester and has for its principal object the :provision of a .singie, 'self-epropelled machine which can be driven along a plurality of rows of beets, and

whidhwill automatically remove the crowns and tops from "the beets, dig :and elevate .the latter, separate theibeets from the cut tops, collect-and deliver the ham-vestedlbeets toan-ydesired receiver, and "pile the tops in convenient windrows on the field.

' Another object 'of "the inwntion is to :provide a 'topping mechanism which .will automatically proportion the severed :crowns to "the size of the heats.

coth'en robfilects and advantages reside' in the detail construction of the invention, which is :designed ior simplicity, economy, and e'fiiciency. fillheseiwill become imore apparent iro'm the fol- ;lowing description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms -:a part hereof. Like :nulmerals-lrefer to like partsin all Views'o'f the-drawing and throughout thedescript'ion.

ZIn the drawing:

.ZEig. =1 a left side elevation o'f the forward portion of the improved harvester.

.Fig. 2 "is an .enlargedhorizontal "section of the 'forwardportion of the improved harvester, taken on the line 2-=2, Fig.1; 7

Fig. 3. isanen1argeddetailssection, taken on the line 3-+3, Fig. '7, illustrating the topping :and'top xemovl-ngzmecha-nism. In this :view a trash ciit- 2 l l, rear drive Wheels l2, rear axle l3, 'seat .M', @ower' takeofi =15, and implement lift levers 24. Theimprovedharvester is supportedon amain :trame lfi ,zpreferably but notne'cessarily,tformedsof :pi'pe or tubing. The main frame :extends along both sides :of the chassis nland is supported at tingdisc haslbeen removed for better illustration.

Fig. 4 isra detail, -horizontal section, taken :on the line 4-4, Fig. 3. r

Fi-g. 5"is a-front viewer thetopp'ing mechanism for :one 'row :of beets, looking on the 1inei5- 5, Fig. "3; "In'this view the various endless chains have been removed for :clarity of "illustration.

. Figfl 6-is adetail section, illustrating-a top conveyor drive mechanism employed'o-n the improved harvester. This section is'taken on the lined-=5, Fig.2.

In Figsjl =and2 the mechanism is shownin the raised position for transportation. In'Fig. lithe mechanism is s'hown-in the lowered position as it would :appear in use. InFig. 2 the position-eta typical tractoris indicated in broken line.

The improved harvester is designed-for attach- :ment to anonventionalfarm'tractor'and, asillustrated, is designed to simultaneously harvest two rows of beets. In thedrawings, typical parts of a conventional tractor are indicated by numeral as follows: tractor I chassis -10; front guide wheel itsrear 'from the rear axle l'31ipon'anysuita ble attachment clips i1. At "the f'oi war'd extremity, the-:main 'frame is suspended from cross :menibers 1.8, which are secured to .and extend :across the "chassis in), :pro'jecting outwardly from both tsides thereof, rby means of suitable suspension :bra'ckets d9.

A receiving h'op o'er zll issupportedover the mward' 'portiowo'f the chassis 'Ill upon suitable supporting legs 21 extending to the cross menibers H3 at 'the opp'osite sides 7 of the chassis 8 ll).

Briefly, thebeets :are tomoed in the ground :at the liron't of the harvester adjacent the forwa'rd poi 'tion of the frame it, one=row ateach side of the path of the guide wheel I l. The topped beets ere dug'floy means of'iifting plows 13, lifted 'from the ground "andrpicked up atthe-rear'df'the fi'eme l-fi and deposited upon an elevating conveyor belt =22, which conveys them to the receiving hopper '20 from which they are dumped at desiied' intervals, preferably "into a receiving truck, ti'n-"oug'iithe medium of suitable loading -ohutes' -23'. The severed tops and crowns: are lifted {and carried toseither side of the harvester, where they a re deposited in a windrow on the ground, there being one windrow for each fourrows of esets. This-application is-directed to the topping mechanism; V

The topp'ing mechanisms -ior' each row of boots are similar. Each comprises an inverted, U- shaped floating "frame 25 suspended-on the "forward extremities of twopairs of parallel toggle "arms -26 which-are hingedly supported fromcross rnemloers M2 on the frame T6. The pair-of arms 26 at each side of the frame 25 are connedtedby means-oi connecting links 2 1, the upper -extremities oi' which areiiinged-toa yoke 28. "Iheydke '28 -provided with as lifting rod 25 extending through a lifting sleeve L's mounted on the extremity of a lifting crank 3!, there being 'one orarik' ier-each row. v

As the'crariks 3 l swing upwardly, they strike stop' menihers 32 on the rods 29 to-lift the latter. Compression springs 33 are positioned between set collars '35 on the rods 19 and the sleeves Ell so as to constantly urge the yo'kes 2 8 7 downwardly, andyet allow them '-to move resiliently upward.

A curved topping kiiiie ES extends'between the lwer extremities of each iieating name and projects forwardly therefrom. A feeler frame 96 extends forwardly at each side of each floating frame 25 and across the front thereof. The sides of the feeler frames 36 are hinged at 31 on the links 21 so that the frames 35 may move independently of the frames 25.

The feeler frames 36 are constantly urged downwardly by means of compression springs 38 surrounding spring rods 39. The spring rods extend between the frames 36 and adjusting nuts 48 resting on supporting brackets 40 mounted on the frames 25. Thus, when the frames 25 are lifted, the rods 39 will lift the frames 36 therewith. Should the frames 36 be lifted, the will act through the springs 38 to resiliently lift the frame 25.

An endless feeler chain 4| extends from a sprocket shaft 42, journalled on each frame l6, forwardly through the adjacent frame 25, and around idler sprockets 43 mounted on each feeler frame 36.

A plurality of parallel top-receiving rods 44 extend rearwardly and upwardly from each of the knives 35 and terminate over a carrier chain 45 which extends from a sprocket shaft 49 on each frame I6 around idler sprockets 41 journalled on the lower links 26. A cross top-corrveyor belt 49 having cross slats I? is positioned below the rearward extremities of the chains I6.

To prevent overhanging or flattened tops and other trash from interfering, two cutting discs 50 are provided for each row. These discs are journalled on the lower extremities of hinged disc frames and positioned at each side of each frame 25. The disc frames are forced downwardly against the ground to exert a cutting action by means of disc springs 52. They may be elevated for transportation by means of lifting rods 53 and lifting cranks 54. The upper extremities of the disc frames 5| are hinged at 55 on a portion of the main frame l6.

The top-conveyor belt 49 extends transversally of the harvester and projects from the right side thereof, as shown in Fig. 2, a distance equal to the distance between two 'beet rows. At the other extremity, the conveyor 49 terminates within the frame 6 alongside a beet row. Thus, when the harvester is reversed to harvest the next two rows of beets, the conveyor can be reversed to pile the tops along the preceding pile, so that there will be one pile of tops along the ground for each four rows of beets.

The reversing of the top-conveyor belt 49 is accomplished by means of two bevel gears 56 mounted on a. sliding sleeve 5'! which is splined on a drive shaft 58 driving the conveyor 29. The sleeve 51 can be shifted to bring either of the gears 56 into mesh with a bevel drive gear 59 through the medium of a shifting lever 60 connected to a hand lever 6| adjacent the operators position.

The topping mechanism and the conveyor 49 are driven from a counter-shaft 62 which is connected through bevel gearing 63 with a cross shaft I99 which is connected to the shaft 42 by means of a drive chain 64. The shaft 62 drives the gear 59 through mitre gearing 65 and a vertical shaft 66. No drive is necessary for the topping chains 45 as they will be carried along by the chains 4|.

The lifting cranks 3| and 54 are mounted on crank shafts 61, from which operating levers 68 project. The levers 69 are connected to draw rods 69 extending to the usual implement lift levers 24, which are hydraulically operated on the conventional tractor. The counter-shaft 62 is driven through the medium of a transmission chain H from the power takeoff l'5 of the tractor through an overriding clutch 12.

The entire harvester moves forwardly along the two rows of beets. The tractor chains 4| are moving downwardly at their forward extremities, so that when a beet is encountered, that chain will climb upon the beet. In so doing it exerts a lifting action through the spring 38 on the knife 35, causing it to assume a predetermined relative position below the crown of the beet, so that the forward movement of the harvester will force the knife through the beet below the crown thereof. Therefore, the knife will assume a position on each beet depending upon the pre-setting of the adjusting nut 48. This position is not uniform, however, for all the beets, since the large and taller beets will exert a compressing action on the spring 38, resulting in a wider vertical space between the chain 4| and the knife than on smaller beets. Thus, the crowns are cut proportionate to the size of the beet, as in hand work.

The severed crowns and tops move rearwardly and upwardly along the rods 44 under the pressure of the oncoming tops and under the dragging action of the feeler chains 4|, which sweep them onto the topping chains 45, where they are firmly held between the two chains 4| and 45 until deposited upon the cross top-conveyor belt 49.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same 'may'be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, Zvithout departing from the spirit of the inven- Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Means for removing the tops and crowns from a row of sugar beets comprising: a supportframe; means rigidly attaching said frame to a tractor; an inverted U-shaped floating frame spanning the row of beets; a pair of parallel, hinged, toggle arms extending from each side of said floating frame rearwardly and upwardly to said supporting frame; a topping knife extending across the bottom of said floating frame; a feeler frame hinged to and extending forwardly from said floating frame; means interposed between said two frames urging the feeler frame downwardly; sprockets carried by said feeler frame forwardly of said floating frame; an endless climbing chain trained around said sprockets; means for driving the lower reach of said feeler chain rearwardly so that it will act as a traction chain and climb up on each beet as approached to raise or lower said floating frame in consequence of the varying heights of said beets; other sprockets on said supporting frame positioned above and to the rear of said floating frame, said endless feeler chain being trained over said other sprockets to act to drag the severed tops rearwardly; and supporting means extending rearward from said knife and acting to support the severed tops beneath the lower reach of said feeler chain.

2. Means for removing the tops and crowns from a row of sugar beets comprising: a supporting frame; means rigidly attaching said frame to a tractor; an inverted U-shaped floating frame spanning the row of beets; a pair of parallel, hinged, toggle arms extending from each side of said floating frame rearwardly and upwardly to said supporting frame; a topping knife extending across the bottom of said floating frame; a feeler frame hinged to and extending forwardly from said floating frame; means interposed between said two frames urging the feeler frame downwardly; sprockets carried by said feeler frame forwardly of said floating frame; an endless climbing chain trained around said sprockets; means for driving the lower reach of said feeler chain rearwardly so that it will act as a traction chain and climb up on each beet as approached to raise or lower said floating frame in consequence of the varying heights of said beets; other sprockets on said supporting frame positioned above and to the rear of said floating frame, said endless feeler chain being trained over said other sprockets to act to drag the severed tops rearwardly; inclined top-receiving bars extending rearward from said knife; and an endless, flexible, top-supporting member receiving the severed tops and holding them in contact with said feeler chain.

3. Means for removing the tops and crowns from a row of sugar beets comprising: a supporting frame; means rigidly attaching said frame to a tractor; an inverted U-shaped floating frame spanning the row of beets; a pair of parallel, hinged, toggle arms extending from each side of said floating frame rearwardly and upwardly to said supporting frame; a topping knife extending across the bottom of said floating frame; beetcontacting means extending forwardly from said supporting frame to contact and pass over said beets in advance of said knife; means connecting said beet-containing means with said floating frame so as to raise and. lower said floating frame in consequence of the height of said beets; a relatively sharp cutting disc positioned at each side and forwardly of said knife; a knife frame rotatably supporting said knives and extending forward and upward to a hinged connection with said main frame; and resilient means urging said knife frame downwardly.

4. Means for removing the tops and crowns from a row of sugar beets comprising: a supporting frame; means rigidly attaching said frame to a tractor; an inverted U-shaped floating frame spanning the row of beets; a pair of parallel, hinged, toggle arms extending from each side of said floating frame rearwardly and upwardly to said supporting frame; a topping knife extending across the bottom of said floating frame; beetcontacting means extending forwardly from said supporting frame to contact and pass over said beets in advance of said knife; means connecting said beet-contacting means with said floating frame so as to raise and lower said floating frame in consequence of the height of said beets; and means connecting said floating frame with an implement lift lever on said tractor for raising and lowering said floating frame.

5. Means for removing the tops and crowns from a row of sugar beets comprising: a supporting frame; means rigidly attaching said frame to a tractor; an inverted U-shaped floating frame spanning the row of beets; a pair of parallel, hinged, toggle arms extending from each side of 'said floating frame rearwardly and upwardly to said supporting frame; a topping knife extending across the bottom of said floating frame; a feeler frame hinged to and extending forwardly from said floating frame; means interposed between said two frames urging the feeler frame downwardly; sprockets carried by said feeler frame forwardly of said floating frame; an endless climbing chain trained around said sprockets; means for driving the lower reach of said feeler chain rearwardly so that it will act as a traction chain and climb up on each beet as approached to raise or lower said floating frame in consequence of the varying heights of said beets; other sprockets on said supporting frame positioned above and to the rear of said floating frame, said endless feeler chain being trained over said other sprockets to act to drag the severed tops rearwardly; supporting means extending rearward from said knife and acting to support the severed tops beneath the lower reach of said feeler chain; and a power-driven, transversely extending top conveyor supported from said supporting frame and positioned to receive the severed tops from said supporting means and convey them to one side of the row.

FRED L. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 684,250 Holmes Oct. 8, 1901 1,013,363 Bates Jan. 2, 1912 1,060,968 Booker May 6, 1913 1,069,380 Booker Aug. 5, 1913 1,149,345 Deyl Aug. 10, 1915 1,199,696 Hawley Sept. 29, 1916 1,235,490 Kramer July 31, 1917 1,257,168 Wilson Feb. 19, 1918 1,282,657 Tussing Oct. 22, 1918 1,315,381 Merchant Sept. 9,1919 1,458,085 Tabor June 5, 1923 1,531,195 Kopitke Mar. 24, 1925 2,141,806 Zielesch Dec. 27, 1938 2,297,065 McLendon Sept. 29, 1942 2,337,698 Walz Dec. 28, 1943 2,369,850 Powers Feb. 20, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 22,095 Great Britain 1901 15,050 Great Britain 1909 847,739 France July 10, 1939 

